China

China reveals its new leaders

Habemus Papam!

WITH ITS UNIQUE and mystifying blend of pageantry, ritual and secrecy, China’s ruling Communist Party Thursday morning revealed the identities of the seven officials it has chosen to lead the nation in the coming years.

Ending the tremendous suspense it has generated over the course of a politically tumultuous year, the party made public its newly selected Politburo Standing Committee by sending them striding, in order of seniority, across a red carpet and into the view of journalists and television cameras crowded into Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.

Leading the pack was Xi Jinping, 59, the party’s new general secretary. This much was no surprise. Since 2007, Mr Xi has been assiduously groomed and unambiguously tipped for the top job. The selection of the second-ranking figure, Li Keqiang, 57, was also widely expected.

But the makeup of the rest of this core group, and even its size, was the focus of intense factional infighting by contenders for top-level power, and the subject of fevered speculation by observers in China and around the world.

The other members of the standing committee are Zhang Dejiang, 65, a vice premier who this year also took on the job of Chongqing party boss (replacing the disgraced Bo Xilai, who fell in a spectacular political scandal); Yu Zhengsheng, 67, party boss of Shanghai; Liu Yunshan, 65, director of the party’s propaganda department; Wang Qishan, 64, a vice premier and former mayor of Beijing; and Zhang Gaoli, 65, party chief of the northern port city of Tianjin.

All the new members are men. The only woman in contention for a spot, Liu Yandong, was all along considered a dark-horse candidate and did not make the cut. The reduction from nine members to seven was expected, but far from certain until the announcement.

The new members are also heavily weighted towards the so-called “elitist” or “princeling” faction of the party. Only two of the seven members, Li Keqiang and Liu Yunshan, are identified with the party’s other main faction, which is seen as having a more populist bent.

These designations, however, are somewhat fuzzy and can only be taken as a rough guideline to the real contours of China’s top-level political landscape, and to the question of whether the new leadership tilts more towards conservatives or reformers. Factional lines are drawn not only over policy differences, but also on personal, regional, and patronage networks about which outsiders have only incomplete knowledge. But it does seem clear that Jiang Zemin, who left the top party job a decade ago, has managed to place many of his own protégéson the standing committee, and that the newly departed general secretary, Hu Jintao, came up with the shorter end of the stick.

What this new leadership group inherits is a country facing vast and daunting new challenges. Social and economic pressures are growing hand in hand. The global economic slowdown has been matched by declining growth in China. Public sentiment is ever more soured by growing inequality, persistent corruption, environmental degradation, and a sense that the party has lost touch with the lives of ordinary people.

In his speech introducing the new leadership, Mr Xi addressed these concerns directly, but with much the same sort of rhetoric the party has been using for years. In one important departure from recent practice, however Mr Xi was also named as head of the party’s powerful central military commission, also on November 15th. In the last leadership transition, Mr Jiang kept things a bit more muddled by waiting two years before relinquishing that job.

The announcement of new leaders came a day after the close of the party’s 18th National Congress, at which the outgoing Mr Hu gave his swansong address to the nation (in the form of a stultifying, jargon-laced 64-page speech). This autumn’s change of party leaders will be followed next March by the shifting of government positions. Mr Hu will retain his title as Chinese president until then, when Mr Xi is expected to take it over. At the same time, Li Keqiang is expected to take over from Wen Jiabao as premier.

Xi Jinping, Zhang Dejiang and Yu Zhengsheng are blue blooded patricians. Li Keqiang and Liu Yunshan rose up from the plebeians. The other 2 are men in the middle. Wang Qishan married into aristocracy and made his name in banking. Zhang Gaoli seems like a regional pick from the south.

Most of the 7 have track records in reforms. It seems this generation of the Politburo Standing Committee has a heavier emphasis on economics than the last generation which was more focused on engineering.

Li Yuanchao and Wang Yang didn't make the cut. Both men are heavy hitting reformers from Hu's camp. I am guessing this was part of the bargain for reducing the Standing Committee from 9 to 7.

Personally, I was hoping for an epic win by the reformers, but the horse trading ended up in another 50/50 draw. I am especially saddened by the lack of Wang Yang, whose flawless record innovative reforms would have benefited China greatly.

All in all this is a decent power transition. I do not expect major reforms in the next 10 years. But the beauty with China is you never know what the future holds.

Xi Jinping, Zhang Dejiang and Yu Zhengsheng are blue blooded patricians. Li Keqiang and Liu Yunshan rose up from the plebeians. The other 2 are men in the middle. Wang Qishan married into aristocracy and made his name in banking. Zhang Gaoli seems like a regional pick from the south.

Most of the 7 have track records in reforms. It seems this generation of the Politburo Standing Committee has a heavier emphasis on economics than the last generation which was more focused on engineering.

Li Yuanchao and Wang Yang didn't make the cut. Both men are heavy hitting reformers from Hu's camp. I am guessing this was part of the bargain for reducing the Standing Committee from 9 to 7.

Personally, I was hoping for an epic win by the reformers, but the horse trading ended up in another 50/50 draw. I am especially saddened by the lack of Wang Yang, whose flawless record innovative reforms would have benefited China greatly.

All in all this is a decent power transition. I do not expect major reforms in the next 10 years. But the beauty with China is you never know what the future holds.

I’m a high school student in ShenZhen. And I would rather choose to believe that a reform will happen in China sooner or later.

This is because in these years I have seen many encouraging changes in China. First, the living conditions of my relatives in AnHui. 5 years ago, when I visited my home town in AnHui, the air was polluted, the roads were dirty and there were not much tall buildings. (Well, compared to ShenZhen). My relatives there were living very poverty-stricken lives and all of them are living in tenements because they can’t afford to buy their own houses. However, I visited them again this year summer and I was surprised to find that AnHui’s capital HeFei is already so developed that I couldn’t distinguish it from ShenZhen, every one of my relative was also driving a car and living in their own houses. One of my uncles is now running a successful business which only had 2 stuffs 5 years ago. One of my aunts is now a small boss of a state-owned firm, where she was working as a normal stuff 5 years ago. If the economic growth in China is just fake as many people suggested, why would such positive changes ever took place?

Secondly, the voice from Chinese people is now playing a more and more important role in the society because of the growing power of internet. One example of that is the Px chemical plant project in NingBo. The NingBo people, in worrying about their own health, went on to the streets to protest violently against this project. Though there were some fights and riots, (which is the same in every protest) the communist party did make a compromise and declared on their official media that the Px project will never be carried out again. While cheering for the success of NingBo people, this made me recall the protest in Japan against the nuclear power station and the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. This event did make me much more optimistic about our country’s system.

It is true that the Chinese government blocks many websites that are not good for them. I don’t know about other schools, but at least in my school you will be mocked if you can’t “cross the wall.” As long as you have a free gate or a VPN, the government will not be restricting the information you can access.

It is surely true that China is not democratic enough. However, many developing countries that are democratic are no less than hell on earth. If China suddenly becomes democratic, a great civil war will immediately took place and it is very likely that millions of innocent and hard-working souls will perish. Even if a civil war doesn’t take place, the relatively low literary rate in China will cause China to turn from a gentle dragon to a destructive beast. Just recall how many people in the protests on DiaoYu Islands called for war against Japan. Just imagine how many people will vote for a violent war if China becomes a democratic country today. A democratic China can only be there when most of the Chinese people are educated and the social environment is stable. And I believe on that day China will finally reform and changes in to a democratic country just like South Korea.

"And I wonder why those from western press are so dedicated to digging out personal ‘secrets’ of the members of the Politburo since there exist the state constitution and party’s constitution, in which scientific concept of development will be or is enshrined to eliminate ‘human factors’ possible to impede the progress. Under the existing constitution, any radical change is not viable."
Through the use of modern Western science, what have the Chinese discovered to make social progress? I don't think CCP overlords have a very good idea of what "science" is when they don't acknowledge the value of transparency, accountability, and critical thinking. To start this conversation, why don't you try explaining to me how science arose from Western natural philosophy?

He retired from the Central Military Commission in order to force the elders (especially that scoundrel Jiang) to stop interfering in the country's future leadership and institutionalize the proper system of power transfer from one generation of leaders to the next.

Xi Jinping will now start with a completely clean slate. Something that Hu never had, but graciously gifted to Xi.

Let the West brag about their "democratically chosen leaders". Let the West brag about how "glamorous, charismatic, articulate, personable, shiny and transparent" their leaders are. Let the West gloat that China has many problems. Ultimately, Hu has brought China FORWARD in a lot of aspects. And brought China forward through WISDOM, PERFORMANCE and ACTUAL RESULTS, not FLASHINESS. Regardless of what the West thinks.

Current history may not look kindly on Hu Jintao. History 50 years later may say Hu Jintao did mostly the right things for China given the circumstances he had, both internally and internationally. History over 100 years later will say that Hu was one of the better and enlightened "emperors" of China.

We in the west have a tendency to impose our ideology on others. We point out the strengths but often times bypass the consequences. There are obvious strengths and weaknesses in the so called liberal democracies. Fiscal cliff, partisan politics, gridlock on both sides of the Atlantic as well as in other emerging countries with liberal democratic model, Japan’s move from a dominant party system to a multiparty system hasn’t pend out too well are all examples that will not encourage the Chinese. For them, it is like trading in one set problems for another. By simply adopting western liberal democratic model is unlikely to be the answer for China. In fact, the risk relative to reward might not be favorable at all.

Nevertheless, there is no question that for China to continue to more forward, some elements of political reform are necessary and inevitable. Perhaps the concept of democracy is basically the norm in modern government, just like monarchy was the norm in the pre-modern era. However, as there were variations in monarchy, there could also be various forms of democracy. Therefore, China should not blindly adopt democracy seen in other countries per se, but try to come up with a system that takes strengths (transparency, popular support, etc) and avoid the weaknesses (gridlock, partisan politics, etc). This should be beyond the ideological argument of liberalism, conversatism, confucianism, etc. It should strives to develop a system that balances out the need for enough legitimacy as well as check and balance and yet retains merit and competency based on a society’s unique underlying character. All political/economic systems were created by human beings, and China now has a golden opportunity to think out of the box, learn from the experience from other countries and try to improve it. No government or system is perfect, it all comes down to striking a balance that is acceptable for the majority of its own citizens.

"Or you can find many dirty beggers whose legs were cut off by mafia and creeping in Shen Zhen streets?"

I have been to many places in Shen Zhen and fortunately I have not seen any beggar with legs cut off.Maybe it's because there are no gangdom in China which can exist under the sunlight.

"5 homeless children died in the street of Peking"

Really? Can you give a link to the news? If it comes from a rather reliable source I will thank you for your concern on Chinese people and post it on Weibo.

"Xi Jinping whose families piled $600 million?"

That is truly a vital problem in China. Again thank you for your concern about China. Maybe you will also find the American politians who used nearly all of Mr.Xi's capitals in one presidential election very disturbing.

"Why and between who do you expect such war arises?"

Poor, unemployed and uncivilised people in China who feel they are treated unequally (those who "smashed Japanese cars and looted Japanese shops" as you indicated) versus rich man and government officials or some war for independence I would expect. In which China will only collapse instead of reform and the civilised people in between them who really want China to be better will be the greatest sufferers. Even if such war never take place, I would reckon that the votes will go to a politian who will declare war against Japan. No world citizen should be expecting that to happen.

And Mr. Sandaman, you are really darkening the image of both your country and the people of your country by posting some very uncivilised comments on here. I have some Japanese classmates and their manners are like nobility compare to your manners. So try to behave more like a gentleman for the sake of your country.

Chinese characteristics prevail wherever there are Chinese whether it is in mainland ruled by the CCP, or in Taiwan ruled alternatively by the KMT or DPP or in Hong Kong ruled by so-called special administrative government.
The common core of the Chinese characteristics can be reduced to the level of the alimentary canal and other simple biological needs, as Mencius declared that the chief desire of mankind to be food and women, or alimentation and reproduction. A Chinese saying goes that when there is rice, let everybody share it, and when there is fortune, let everybody make a pile, which sounds exactly like the notion advocated by the CCP as ‘the common prosperity”.
Next to food and women, what Chinese cherish is pacifism or harmony that is more popular. Harmony is actually distinguished by a certain tolerant nonchalance. With that view of life, Chinese chase neither anything ambitious enough nor do they expect to sit on top of the world, they have undergone much of life during 5000 years in the past and they are ready to accept life as it is. The life they understand is full of pain and sorrow, so they have to work peacefully, endure nobly, and live happily. That will explain what ‘peaceful rise’ is aimed at.
Then comes indifference .. There is another old Chinese saying, "sweep the snow only in front of your doorstep". The contrast with the west's concern to shape the world in its own image could not be more profound. There is a special term in Chinese to describe such a situation in which one shows no concern at all, that is, ‘idle affair’. The instruction given by mother to a school boy when he is to start his day in school might be not to meddle with public affairs. With mother’s words in mind, he would never come to the rescue of those who are in danger. Things of that sort are frequently covered by mainland reporters in recent years.
Internecine struggle or internal friction might follow indifference. in contemporary history, there were numerous civil wars that claimed millions of lives, especially the ones between the CCP and the KMT that leads to the separation of Taiwan from mainland for 60 or so years since 1949. to certain extent, Chinese may be a people full of little minds with snobbish attitudes towards each other, envious of any vantage denied of themselves. When left alone, one Chinese is a man. When hanged together, they are in the state of disunity. The most striking landscape in this TE site is to read posters by native Chinese or overseas Chinese playing blames on one another, which dwarfs any comment\ from any other countries.

Qingfu is right. If China suddenly becomes democratic, there will be no peace for quite some time and the country will move backward. This is not childish thinking but one that shows the maturity of Qingfu. On the other hand, your tinking is very immature. You seem not to understand the nature and the danger to moving to a democratic state when a country is not ready. There was once in 1911 a democratic countrywide election. It ended with an assassination and Yuan Shikai becoming emperor. Since then, there has not been any other countrywide democratic election. Grow up, please.

I think Jinping is a lot more pro-West than his predecessors. He still has fond memories of the corn fields in Iowa. Besides, his first wife (Xiaoming Ke) is now living in UK probably (no?) and his sister An'an Xi (a.k.a. Qiaoqiao Qi?) lives in Canada, I believe, not to mention his daughter Mingze, who is studying under a pseudonym at that reactionary University called Harvard (Kennedy School of Government?). China Agricultural University is a much better place than Harvard to learn about the Revolutionary Spirit of Lei Feng, no? Perhaps both Guagua Bo and Mingze Xi should go back to China and follow the footsteps of their glorious grandfathers, the Great Chinese Revolutionaries, and not of their corrupt princeling fathers to help fulfill the dreams of the billions of poor peasants and workers in China. The Hukuo-Proletariat prospiring under the beneviolent goadance and coercive care of the CPC without Maoist characteristics (now that Bo and his red songs are purged) but with scientific opening-up and reform outlook emancipating the mind, moving boldly ahead where no country has gone before, come hell or high water, smog or sandstorms.
The East is Pink!

I told you already, my parents are CCP officials who, through the generosity of the Chinese public, payed for my American green card through an EB-5 investment program - just 500 thousand USD. Of course, tuition at my private university is just pocket change for the Chinese public. I'm very proud of China, 太子党万岁！

Habemus Papam! ("We Have a Pope!") is the announcement given in Latin by the Cardinal Protodeacon, the senior Cardinal Deacon, upon the election of a new pope.
The announcement is given from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. After the announcement, the new pope is presented to the people and he gives his first Urbi et Orbi blessing.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habemus_Papam

Which is more imperative, the pope or the holy book?

The rule of a country by law is what both Chinese people and western media are in pursuit of. And I wonder why those from western press are so dedicated to digging out personal ‘secrets’ of the members of the Politburo since there exist the state constitution and party’s constitution, in which scientific concept of development will be or is enshrined to eliminate ‘human factors’ possible to impede the progress. Under the existing constitution, any radical change is not viable. .

Fun with Fruit wrote: "The really amazing thing about China is that even after such a chaotic history it still exists as a single polity (kind of..ignoring Tibet, Taiwan, HK, Senkaku for the moment)".

And I found it amazing AND curious that why someone like 'Fun with Fruit'with ancesty from India would be so obsessed with articles related to China?? Yet he is so igorant and self-righteous but thinks he knows more than the people who actually live in China and tell them what they should do?

He spends hours trolling with China affairs but nothing related to his mother country India. Why is that? Shouldn't he at least visits India and see how this so-called "Democracy" working there before he thinks that will "work" for China??

I can see some arrogant westerners who have spent no more than a day in China and speak no more than few Chinese food dishes names who think they know better. But someone with roots from a third world country really amaze me.

...in which scientific concept of development will be or is enshrined to eliminate ‘human factors’ possible to impede the progress. Under the existing constitution, any radical change is not viable. .

****************************************

Exactly, here is an example how "free" media messed up their countries :

We know there have been widespread debt issues in "free" world, almost all of them are because of unreasonable demands from unions and parasites.

Are vast majority people in "free" world unreasonable? obviously not. But here is the situation :

1000 people, 990 of them are reasonable people with reasonable demands, 9 of them are greed and want more, but don't want to be the first one tagged as bad apple in a bunch. The last one is very greedy, demand unreasonable money.

With one standing out, the 9 will demand lot more too. What about 990? is it fair for them to keep quiet? No, so 90 of them join in and demand a lot more, and so on and so on, finally all 1000 become unreasonable.

So here is the question : who gives the right to the first one to demand unreasonable amount money?

Answer : "free" media, they claim that it is "human right" for anyone to demand any amount of benefits or compensation they want, no matter how unreasonable the demand is.